IRRPL showcased AK-203 assualt rifles at Defexpo 2022. (Janes/Kapil Kajal)
Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL) – a joint venture between Russia and India to manufacture AK-203 assault rifles for the Indian Armed Forces – has initiated the process to produce the rifles in India, it has been confirmed to Janes at Defexpo 2022, being held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, from 18 to 22 October.
Rajeev Sharma, general manager, Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Limited (AWEIL), which is one of the stakeholders in IRRPL, told Janes that the modalities to manufacture AK-203 are already out and the process of producing AK-203 in the Ordnance Factory, Korwa, has started.
In September the president of the Kalashnikov Group, Alan Lushnikov, told Russian state-affiliated media agency TASS that the Russian-Indian joint venture for the production of AK-203 assault rifles has started its work.
IRRPL said that the rifle is chambered for 7.62×39 rounds and can use ammunition and magazines that exist within the Indian Army supply chain.
The weight of the rifle is 3.8 kg, the length is 690 mm with a folded butt and 930 mm with an extended butt, and the rate of fire is 700 rds/min.
The muzzle velocity of the AK-203 rifles is 715 m/s, the effective firing range is 800 m, and the magazine of the gun holds 30 rounds.
The rifle enables the finger tab to change the selector switch without removing the master hand from the pistol grip, said IRRPL.
The rifle can be used in conjunction with modern reflex and optical sights, night vision and thermal scopes, as well as infrared (IR) lasers.
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